Redeeming the Time

The exchange of attributes from Holy Communion helps us to lose our attraction to sin


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On this day that we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist, we look at two wonderful hymns from the canon on Holy Thursday which explain why it is a logical certainly that the Lord would offer His body and blood to the faithful, as "food indeed, and drink indeed". The Body and blood of Christ helps us to learn to not be attached to sin! Salvation is not only the forgiveness of sin; it is the obliteration of sin - to not be attached to sin! The story of the old man and his disciple who met a loose woman on the way to the city perfectly illustrates this. The "exchange of attributes" of the divine with our human flesh occurs when we partake of holy communion in the context of struggling against sin. We also explain what "Catholic" means, the paschal lamb, the struggle of Mary of Egypt as a model for losing our attachment to sin, the most pernicious heresies and poor practices of this age and the suggestion of an edifying hobby! O God the Lord and Creator of all, Thou art become poor, uniting a created nature to Thyself, while remaining free from passion. Since Thou art the Passover, Thou hast offered Thyself to those for whose sake Thou wast soon to die; and Thou hast cried: "Eat My Body, and ye shall be firmly established in the faith." (Canon for Holy Thursday,Irmos Ode 3) Since I am man not merely in appearance but in reality, the human nature united to Me is made godlike through the exchange of attributes. Know Me, then, as one single Christ, who saves those among whom I have been born and whose nature I have taken. (Canon for Holy Thursday, Ode 9)
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Redeeming the TimeBy Fr. Seraphim Holland and Ancient Faith Radio